Foot-rest for boot-blacks



(No Model.)

T. J. PENDERGAST.

FOOT REST FOR BOOT BLAOKS.

No. 573,284. y Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

UNITED STATES ATENT UFFICE.

THOMAS J. PENDERGAST, OF EASTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOOT-REST FOR BOOT-BLACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,284, dated December 15, 1896.

l Application filed october 10,1896.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMAS J. PnNnnReAs'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Easthampton, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented newand useful Improvements in Foot-Rests for Boot-Blacks, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to foot-rests for bootblacks stands and similar purposes; and it consists of means for holding the foot in place thereon, while giving easy access to all portions of the foot-by the operator for polishing the same, all as fully described and claimed in the following specification.

In the drawing, which forms a part ot this specification, a perspective view which clearly illustrates the invention is shown.

Referring to said drawing, A represents a 4flat metal base secured to any suitable support therefor by screws, as shown, or other convenient means. Cast integral with said base and at a suitable angle thereto is the foot-rest proper, B, a fan cifully-designed web I5 uniting said foot-rest B` and said base A. Said foot-rest B is substantially of the outline of a shoe, the heel-plate C thereof lying in a plane su fliciently below the plane of the sole part C to form thereby at D an abutment for the forward edge of the heel of the shoe. Said abutment D is preferably undercut somewhat, whereby a more or less sharp edge d is formed thereon for insuring a better grip thereof on the said inner edge of the heel of said shoe. A curved arm E extends rearwardly from the rear end of said heel part C, and in the free end E thereof is located a rod F in substantially the same plane as the base A. The radius of the curve of said arm is sufficient to allow the operator to pass a brush therethrough for operating on the heel of the shoe. Said rod F has a free movement in its bearing in the end E of said arm E, and on its rearmost end is a knob or handle G, and fixed in its opposite end is a properly-shaped piece II for supporting the foot just above the heel. On the said rod, between said part II and said end E of the arm E, is a spiral spring m, which serves to press said support II against the back of the foot when the latter isplaced on the footrest. l

Serial No. 608,474. (No model.)

The foot-rest proper, B, has the toe end elevated considerably above the heel end thereof, while the rod F exerts a pressure in practically a horizontal line. It follows, therefore, that the pressure exerted by the support II tends to keep the foot pressing down-on the rest, and the forward pressure of said support tends to engage the sharpened edge d of the abutment D forcibly with the forward edge of the heel of the shoe.

The dropping of the heel part of the footrest, as described, and the placing of the support II against that part of foot well above the heel leaves every part of the shoe eX- posed to the use of a brush thereon for polishing, and the wide range of movement of the rod F on its support I-I adapts the footrest to shoes of any size.

IIaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A rest for supporting the foot, an abutment thereon for engaging the forward edge of the heel of the shoe, an adjustable support for the back of the foot, and means for holding said adjustable support forcibly against said foot for effecting said engagement, substantially as described.

2. A rest for supporting the foot in an upwardly-inclined position, an abutment thereon for engaging the forward edge of the heel of said shoe, a support for the back of the shoe for effecting said engagement, and means for moving said support lengthwise of said footrest, and angularly with relation thereto, substantially as described.

3. A rest for supporting the foot in an upwardly-inclined position, an abutment thereon for engaging the forward edge of the heel of said shoe, a curved arm extending rearwardly from said foot-rest, and a spring-actuated support in said arm for the back of the shoe, for effecting the engagement of said abutment and said heel, substantially as described.

TlIOMAS J. PENDERGAST.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CHAPIN, K. I. CLEMoNs. 

